A Rare & Desirable 1914 Star & Bar Trio with Plaque.
To:
1484, L/Cpl Walter Oswald Orpet. 9th London Regt
(Queen Victoria’s Rifles)

KILLED IN ACTION, 25th OCTOBER 1915
(A Late Loos Casualty)

[BIOGRAPHY]
Walter Oswald Orpet was born in Highbury in 1892 the son of Robert Enos Orpet (Domestic Coachman) & Jane Louisa Orpet, of The Stables, 142, Highbury New Park, Highbury, London. Prior to enlistment into the regular army in about August 1912 he had worked as a Railway Clerk. He had two younger sisters, Ethel & Winnie, and a younger brother Leonard.

Walter entered France on 4th November 1914 and took part in many of the early battles of the Great War. Walter was sadly killed in action on 25th October 1915 (Balaclava Day) and was probably hit by a sniper or an artillery shell in the few days after the official end of the battle of Loos which started to die out from about the 19th of October 1915.

[9th (COUNTY OF LONDON) BATTALION, THE LONDON REGIMENT]
The 1st Queen Victoria’s Rifles are the descendants of The Duke of Cumberland’s Corps of Sharpshooters which was inaugurated in September 1803. In 1908, when the Territorial Force was created, the 9th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Queen Victoria’s Rifles) was allocated to the 3rd London Brigade, 1st London Division.

In August 1914 they had their HQ at 56 Davies Street and were part of 3rd London Brigade, 1st London Division. They Moved on mobilisation to Bullswater, going on in September to Crowborough. Early in the Great War, the 1st London Division was broken up to provide reinforcements for the BEF and on 5th November 1914 the 9th Battalion landed at Havre and joined 13th Brigade, 5th Division. The battalion fought with 5th Division throughout 1915, at Hill 60, Second Ypres and St Julien. In February 1916 the 56th Division was formed in France and the 9th Battalion were allocated to the 169th Brigade. It fought with this division on the Somme, Arras, Third Ypres and Cambrai and transferred to the 58th Division in February 1918 where it amalgamated with the 2/9th to become the 9th Battalion.

Walter Orpet is commemorated with eternal honour at Carnoy Military Cemetery, France. He left £16 3/- 8d to his father Robert. Walter’s dependants pension was originally also awarded to his father Robert, but was transferred to his mother Louisa upon Robert’s sudden death at about age 53, during the award process.

With several research documents & CWG papers etc.









The Medals & Plaque are Practically Mint State with Original Ribbons.

£695